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We’re taking one big step toward green living here at the Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic, and it’s in a way that most probably wouldn’t guess if they had 10 guesses. Let me describe what’s new.
We’re all aware that death is a part of life, and most are aware that euthanasia is a part of veterinary medicine. No, it’s not the most pleasant part of veterinary medicine, though the ability to limit irreversible suffering is a loving thing to do for our four-legged friends. Along with the conversation of euthanasia, we have a discussion with our clients about how they’d like to dispose of the body after euthanasia. Some elect to bury at home, most elect some form of cremation, either communal or private.
The process of cremation on the veterinary side has been the same as on the human side for a long, long time. Heat is employed, at a great consumption of energy, and a result of the process is that gasses are produced and released into the environment. Whether or not one believes in man-made global warming or climate change, we all should agree that (1) seeking alternatives to consuming more energy than is necessary and (2) avoiding the spread of potentially harmful products into the environment is a good idea. As far as cremation service is concerned, that time has come.
Technology in this field has progressed to the point where a service called Alkaline Hydrolysis is now available for our deceased pet friends. This process is an accelerated version of what happens to the body naturally after death. In fact, there is nothing unnatural about it. For instance, during life your body digests the food you eat in your small intestine using the process of Alkaline Hydrolysis.
Alkaline Hydrolysis consumes about a tenth of the energy that heat cremation consumes, and it is a much more natural process than cremation by heat. At the end of Alkaline Hydrolysis, what remains is ash and liquid, mostly water.
If you would like to learn more about this “new” process of cremation, visit:
- Alkaline Hydrolysis: An Environmentally Responsible Alternative to Cremation and Burial
- About Alkaline Hydrolysis
Euthanasia is never an easy time. And talking about euthanasia and cremation, ashes and urns is never particularly warm and fuzzy. But as I said above, death is a part of life, and we must deal with death as best we can, and as responsibly as we can. We are happy to be able to move in an earth-friendly direction with our practices and policies at the Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic.
